Once again, rural Austin is getting something that’s becoming increasingly common in the area — a natural wetland.

Employees from the Department of Natural Resources hoped to complete tile removal Thursday afternoon from former farmland that had chronic flooding problems. It will become an aquatic management area with many opportunities for the public and the critters.

Six years ago, former owner Ron Skjeveland decided repetitive flooding was too much to keep the farmstead along the Cedar River in south Austin. Mower County acquired Skjeveland’s property — located south of the former Sheriffs Youth Ranch — under its flood-protection program and later transferred the property to the Department of Natural Resources.

Most of the restoration already has taken place, as natural vegetation has grown back on the land. But as the land is mostly weeds and thistles right now, the final step of tile removal will change the landscape throughout the next century. The DNR also plans to kill the weeds in the area and plant native grasses. So for the next decade or more, the land may be a good recreational resource.

Justin Hanson, resource specialist for the CRWD, said “there will be some natural wetland features.” He added ponds will naturally fill in, waterfowl and other animals could move into the area, and the adjacent river will be cleaner. Although the land had not been farmed for six years, the tile within the ground allowed excess nutrients to run directly to the water. Without the tile, the ground will become increasingly wet and act as a filter next to the river.

The land, which is just less than 30 acres, will be open to the public with hunting, trails and possibly a public access to the Cedar River.